Is RUSS Pus #253a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1987 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
PSA 10 copies of RUSS Pus #253a sell for $27.03, only $24.94 above the $2.09 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.70) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.09
- PSA 10
- $27.03
- PSA 9
- $25.70
- Gem premium
- 13×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $27.03 | −$0.06 | −$25.06 | −$125 |
| PSA 9 | $25.70 | −$1.39 | −$26.39 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $5.50 | −$21.59 | −$46.59 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $2.09 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $26.03 | −$26.06 |
| 50% | $26.37 | −$25.72 |
| 75% | $26.70 | −$25.39 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $35.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $27.03 | −$7.97 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $16.00 | −$19.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16.00 | −$19.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $27.03 | $16.00 | $35.00 | $16.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $26.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $25.70 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $5.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1987 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading RUSS Pus #253a — FAQ
Is RUSS Pus #253a worth grading?
PSA 10 copies of RUSS Pus #253a sell for $27.03, only $24.94 above the $2.09 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($25.70) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
How much is a PSA 10 RUSS Pus #253a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 RUSS Pus #253a (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $27.03 versus $2.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for RUSS Pus #253a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $35.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $27.03. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does RUSS Pus #253a need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your Garbage Pail Kids card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free